School Improvement Networks

HAOS manages a number of professional networks. Staff working in schools can join to connect and share their information and experiences. Groups meet regularly throughout the year with professionals from all over Handsworth and provide invaluable peer-to-peer support to help with a wide range of educational issues.

Sharing plans and ideas for problem solving

Twice termly meetings are hosted at the Welford Hub that include helpful offers to local schools from Birmingham Education Partnership, Children’s Trust, Education Empowerment Foundation (EEF),and HAOS. The meetings provide an opportunity for headteachers to share plans and ideas for problem solving. Recently, there has been a major focus on the impact on schools’ and schools’ staff, of changes to the BCC support arrangements for schools, and governance arrangements relating to how schools consortia relate to the Children’s Trust.

Support schools, children and families in exploring funding opportunities

Much of the work this year has focused on the DLP project which provides funding linked to targets for SEND pupils. HAOS has supported the Handsworth Schools’ Consortium in helping engage more local schools and ensuring best practice is shared to as many schools as possible. Schools continue to share with each other and with Birmingham City Council and Children’s Trust, how the pressures of working with so many children with additional needs impacts the school’s staff and children HAOS is keen to find ways to support schools, children and families and has been exploring funding opportunities.

Pastoral care is becoming increasingly crucial in primary schools

Because of the range of pressures and dangers that children can face. Our Pastoral Care Network has been an opportunity for local Pastoral Staff to meet termly in a supportive environment to network and meet fellow colleagues. One recent meeting focused on maximizing school attendance including updates on attendance codes and fines for non-attendance. An increasing number of children in local schools are living in temporary accommodation and this can impact on the ability to travel to and attend school.

Complementing Citywide Provision

The EYFS network meets regularly and aims to complement citywide EYFS provision. We are evolving our EYFS information and will offer and update presently.

Responding to Change

A new network of business managers was formed this year and this is providing a valuable forum to share good practice and ideas between schools. Schools’ managers have been working together to explore how they can respond to the changes necessary following decisions by Birmingham City Council to remove the oracle financial support and HR facility used by Birmingham Schools.

Termly Moderation Support

HAOS offers termly moderation support sessions for key stage 1 and 2 teachers as part of our comprehensive package of joint moderation sessions. This is an opportunity for teachers to come together and familiarise themselves with standardisation documents and pick apart the relevant teacher assessment frameworks, so they gain a greater understanding of what IS expected of their student writers. Teachers support each other in moderating their pupils' writing and share good practice. The sessions help to Improve teacher confidence in making evidenced judgements that allowed them to say, "They've met the standard!"

WHAT TEACHERS SAY

"It was useful to have conversations from actual moderators." Teacher Grove School.

"It was good to share moderation ideas and look at each others books to compare books." Teacher -Welford Primary School

"The session gave me the chance to have professional discussions with other teachers that have previously been moderated." Teacher - William Murdoch Primary